The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[MargaretYakoda]

So....better post your recipe for the candied orange peels

Okie Dokie!

Candied Orange Peels and orange syrup

Candied orange peels. Delicious as a snack alone or dipped in chocoloate. Can also be used as a spice in pork or chicken dishes, or perhaps as a salad garnish.

Boil the water and sugar left over from making the peels and you've got orange syrup!

Ingredients:
2 cups sliced Orange peels
4 cups sugar
4 cups water
2 cups sugar for rolling peels in before drying
1 can Frozen orange juice concentrate for the syrup

Directions:

This recipie scales up or down using these proportions.
Save orange peels in the freezer until you have enough.

Cut peels into 1/4 inch strips
In heavy pan cover peels with water, then boil for 15 minutes. Save the liquid for the next project: Orange syrup.

Drain peels, and cover with water for a second 15 minute boil. Then drain the peels. Again, save the liquid for the next project. Set all this liquid aside in a separate pot and, along with the previous saved liquid, reduce it with a slow boil until it's about one quarter the original volume.

Cover peels in water again, but this time measure it. For every cup of water, add one cup sugar. Use enough water and sugar to cover your peels.
Boil peels and sugar syrup on a medium boil for 45 minutes. Take care the pot does not boil over. Although, it generally does.

Drain peels and allow to cool. Save the syrup liquid for the next project: Orange syrup.
Roll the cooled peels in sugar and put on cookie sheet lined with aluminum foil.
Bake in a low oven until dried. Check occasionally to assure they don't burn.

Orange Syrup
Take the sugar left over from rolling the orange peels, along with the reserved orange water and the orange juice concentrate. Add it to the sugar syrup and simmer slowly until it reaches a thick, pancake syrup consistency.

Store peels, and syrup in refrigerator until use. We have canned the syrup the same as you might can jelly. Works well for long term storage.

I've never dipped the candied peels in dark chocolate, but one day I mean to ...

 

[maggiemo]

Could I please get some opinions here?
I have 20 chicks in a stock tank in the garage (I'm only keeping 9 or 10, I am raising them for some friends too). They are 2 1/2 weeks old and have gotten soooo BIG I can't believe it. I've never raised chicks myself, I have always let a broody do it.
I was planing on moving them out to the 'chicken run area' when they were feathered out, but now I think I need to move them this weekend. They will be 3 weeks old on Monday.
I have three coops, a main coop and small elevated coop and a mini 'broody/sick' coop.

All three coops have their own runs that can be secured individually.
The whole run area is a very large fenced and wire covered area, probably 60 X80 feet. We have lots of predators here.
My question is, can I put a light in the middle raised coop and will the 20 three week old chicks be ok there or should I put them in the broody coop with a light there? I am worried that they won't be able to figure out how to get up and down the ramp.
Again, I would love to hear any opinions!

 

[Saerasx]

One of my new chicks, an australorp pullet seems to be a victim of pasty butt. None of my other 3 chicks are showing any symptoms of it. And I felt awful having to wet her butt to get it off Is there a natural form of pro biotics? Yogurt perhaps? My 14 month old daughter has a slight dairy intolerance so I just have coconut greek and plain yogurt in raspberry flavor- would this work? thanks!

 

[subhanalah]

One of my new chicks, an australorp pullet seems to be a victim of pasty butt. None of my other 3 chicks are showing any symptoms of it. And I felt awful having to wet her butt to get it off Is there a natural form of pro biotics? Yogurt perhaps? My 14 month old daughter has a slight dairy intolerance so I just have coconut greek and plain yogurt in raspberry flavor- would this work? thanks!

it may be too warm in the hottest part of the brooder, I've found this to be the culprit for pasty butt.

 

[Saerasx]

@subhanalah hmmm I'm using the Brinsea as the heat source, and I propped one end up so its a bit cooler if they want it. is there anything else I can do?

 

[subhanalah]

@subhanalah hmmm I'm using the Brinsea as the heat source, and I propped one end up so its a bit cooler if they want it. is there anything else I can do?

the brinsea pate shouldn't bee too hot for them. Hm...could the chicken be getting chilled? I'm pretty sure either temperature extreme can cause pasty butt.

 

[Saerasx]

The way I have it set up now, is that one end is a bit more propped up than the other, just to give a range of temps. Laser temping says 95+ on the high end to 88 on the low end...none are panting or lethargic so Im at a loss. her sibling is completely normal as well as are the marans and EE...so very stumped...Im wondering if some probiotics wouldnt hurt... they are getting scratch and pecks no soy no corn feed and just plain spring water with scratch and pecks brand chick grit...so Im at a loss

 

[subhanalah]

You can give them a little bit of human probiotic sprinkled over their food. I don't like dairy for them, but many people do.

 

[joyfulkeeper]

The way I have it set up now, is that one end is a bit more propped up than the other, just to give a range of temps. Laser temping says 95+ on the high end to 88 on the low end...none are panting or lethargic so Im at a loss. her sibling is completely normal as well as are the marans and EE...so very stumped...Im wondering if some probiotics wouldnt hurt... they are getting scratch and pecks no soy no corn feed and just plain spring water with scratch and pecks brand chick grit...so Im at a loss

I'm no expert but I read about using unpasteurized apple cider vinegar (with the mother) in the water to help prevent pasty butts. That is what I did and none of my chicks had any problems. I think "the mother" is probiotics (someone correct me if I'm wrong). And no, probiotics definitely wouldn't hurt however you choose to give it to them. I'm hoping your little chick will be just fine now and not have a recurrence.

 

[Saerasx]

I have infants probiotic powder.and coconut milk based greek yogurt in raspberry but could go out tomorrow...what's the best course?